05/09/2022
10:56:39 AM
HTHS - Below are the summer reading requirements for each grade level. The English department and the librarian have worked together to select titles that touch on the themes of the class the students will be taking and are also approachable reads for students on their own. We believe there is something on each list for every student, though a few of the titles may contain content that some may find objectionable. We encourage you to research the options to find the right book for you. If you have any questions, you can reach out to the grade level contact listed below.
English 9 & Advanced English 9
Stories about JOURNEYS
Students entering grade 9 will choose ONE book from the list below to read over the summer. Within the first week of school, students will be asked to complete a writing assignment in class on their book of choice. To prepare for this, read the book and take notes (or annotate). If you have questions, please direct them to Christy Dooley (christy.dooley@trussvillecityschools.com).
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
- Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
- Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
- Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
- The Library of Legends by Janie Chang
- The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
- Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman
English 10 & Advanced English 10
Stories about IDENTITY
Students entering grade 10 will choose ONE book from the list below to read over the summer. Within the first week of school, students will be asked to complete a writing assignment in class on their book of choice. To prepare for this, read the book and take notes (or annotate). If you have questions, please direct them to Kathryn Rasberry (kaththryn.rasberry@trussvillecityschools.com).
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding
- How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent by Julia Alvarez
- Impossible Music by Sean Williams
- Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
- The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
- Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
- Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang
- Sadie by Courtney Summers
- Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
English 11
Stories about JUSTICE
Students entering grade 11 who are NOT taking Advanced Placement will choose ONE book from the list below to read over the summer. Within the first week of school, students will be asked to complete a writing assignment in class on their book of choice. To prepare for this, read the book and take notes (or annotate). If you have any questions, please direct them to Jen Coleman (jennifer.coleman@trussvillecityschools.com).
- A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
- They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
- Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
- You’re Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner
- Adnan’s Story by Rabia Chaudry
- The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Advanced Placement English 11
Students entering 11th grade and taking Advanced Placement will read The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton. Students will also be asked to read Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds within the first few weeks of school, so students who want to get a head start on their reading may want to go ahead and read Long Way Down over the summer.
English 12, Dual Enrollment English 12, and Advanced Placement English 12
Stories about WIDENING YOUR WORLD
Students entering grade 12 will choose ONE book from the list below to read over the summer. Within the first week of school, students will be asked to complete a writing assignment in class on their book of choice. To prepare for this, read the book and take notes (or annotate). If you have any questions, please direct them to Lacey deShazo (lacey.deshazo@trussvillecityschools.com).
- Klara and the Sun by Kazuro Ishiguro
- Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
- Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
- Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
- Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nahesi Coates
- Wild by Cheryl Strayed
- The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
All titles are available through our school’s SORA reading app, though there may be limited copies available for some titles. Go to https://soraapp.com/library/trussvilleal or download the SORA app and choose Trussville City Schools. You will sign in using your school Google account.
